Who Should I Start? Amari Cooper or Michael Pittman Jr.

Friday, December 20, 4:02 PM

It's safe to call Buffalo Bills Amari Cooper (wrist) a risky fantasy football option in the team's matchup against the New England Patriots. The veteran earned 14 targets in a shootout versus Los Angeles two weeks ago. He followed that up with zero targets against Detroit (another shootout). Rookie Keon Coleman returned to the lineup last week and created a crowded wide receiver room. Cooper's been a part-time player since his arrival in upstate New York, often playing fewer snaps than Khalil Shakir, Coleman, and Mack Hollins. Cooper could also see a lot of star cornerback Christian Gonzalez on Sunday. There are no concerns about his wrist injury, but fantasy managers shouldn't trust Cooper in lineups this weekend.

Friday, December 20, 10:52 PM

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. was a full participant in practice on Friday. The 27-year-old did not practice on Wednesday, but was back to a full participant the following two sessions to close out the week. The 6-foot-4 wideout has dealt with back issues seemingly all season long, but it has cost him just one week of playing time. The former second-round draft pick has been Anthony Richardson's preferred target in the passing game over the last four weeks since being reinstated as the starting QB, averaging over five catches per contest, albeit for just 60 yards per game. The fifth-year pro hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 6, which happened to be against his Week 16 opponent, the Tennessee Titans. Although he found paydirt in that first meeting, he did so on just three catches for 35 yards. With the Titans allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers and with Richardson completing less than 50% of his passes on the season, expectations for Sunday's divisional showdown should be tempered. While the Colts are 3.5-point favorites in this one, there is a low expected total of 42.5 and Pittman Jr. projects as a WR4 this week, so hopefully fantasy managers have other options.